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Cover Me Impressed

With a focus on the 60's-90's music scene, CMI is a Paradiso for Lovers Cover Songs! Each post focuses on a particular song and provides its original and most popular recordings as well as covers versions. Patrons of CMI vote on the most deserving cover version, which will then live to compete again, battling other cover songs in a future post.

Tune du Jour: “Instant Karma!” – John Lennon

THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Midnight Oil vs. Paul Weller

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Who In The Hell Do You Think You Are? A Broccoli Stalk? Well, Right You Are!

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Instant Karma! was written by John Lennon and released In February 1970. The song was written, recorded and released within a period of ten days, making it one of the fastest-released songs in pop music history. Instant Karma! reached the top 5 on the UK and US singles charts, becoming the first solo single by a former member of the Beatles to sell a million copies.

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The Original

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John Lennon:

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THE CLASH of Cover Tunes

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Midnight Oil vs. Paul Weller

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Midnight Oil:

Paul Weller:

Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. Only one cover tune will live to play another day and it is your solemn responsibility to decide which one prevails. So tell me … Which Side Are You On?!!?

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Like the rawness of MO’s live performance and possible latent “king-sized” connection. Thanks for unearthing MO dubbs!…Weller’s version has a certain appeal, esp. the vocals, but is a bit over-produced and sounds to much like Lennon, may as well listen to John.

I feel badly for Weller. This is one he surely wanted. Instant Karma! was almost certainly to be his crown jewel of covers. And Weller surely delivers a laudable homage to Lennon with his spirited remake of Instant Karma! But circumstance has played its part in whisking away any realistic chance that Weller may have had to prevail. As Cuspid said, Midnight Oil knocked this one out of the park. Clearly the setting and emotional aspects underlying Midnight Oil’s performance greatly contributed to the pure energy (and superiority) of their version. Lennon would have surely embraced the type of guerrilla action that Midnight Oil was imposing upon Exxon and the oil industry in general. And so it goes. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da …

I hadn’t heard either cover version until now. I like both musicians,and both versions are excellent. Midnight Oil’s really strong performance is impressive. Really turns it into a rallying cry. (Although that’s what they do to, like, every song they sing!). Weller’s version is also very good, but it sounds too much like the original. It needs a little oomph, which Midnight Oil supplies nicely. I give it to MO.